Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 9354
Submitted: June 30, 2022 at 11:58:22 PM
First Name: Binyat
Last Name: Akrem
Student Number: 20301422
Email: 21bma1@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAS
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 1
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
I am Binyat, and I am a first-year student here at Queens University in the Bachelor of Arts and Science Program.
I am requesting a review of my enrolment and to appeal the request of withdrawal from the program for one year as a result of extenuating circumstances. Your help would be greatly appreciated, thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.
I understand that my appeal is late, and this is due to extenuating circumstances that extended well past the school year. On May 18th, 2022, my close friend passed away. I viewed the letter a day after it was sent, on May 25th, which was on the same day of the casket viewing as well as my 19th birthday. The following day was his funeral. As you can imagine it was a very difficult time for me to lose someone so close. When I saw the letter that morning, I read the first few lines and could not go further on my own due to the stress, anxiety and grief I was experiencing. Dealing with the grief of my friend, I could not take steps to address the appeal for a little while with all this happening. However, I did make an appointment with a counsellor connected to me by my psychiatrist for support with the letter and appeal. We, unfortunately, weren't able to meet until late June.
Over the entirety of my first year, I faced issues with mental health. I worked on getting academic consideration, however, I only received accessibility support towards the end of the year. I was struggling with getting help at Queens. I had asked to start counselling but was never given the steps to move forward or access such services. My mother had to come to Kingston for a few days to take me to the Student Wellness Centre because of the extent that which I was struggling. On top of struggling mentally, several extenuating circumstances took place over the year.
In January, I was in a car accident alone. My car was totalled, and the mental toll of the accident was difficult, as well as dealing with the aftermath of the situation.
In March, I was struggling with finances. I had made many trips to the financial advisor's office where I tried to figure out how I would be able to pay off my first year. This stress affected my attention to most things and made it difficult to focus in class and on assignments.
During the time of my financial stress, my new phone had got stolen. I was phone-less for almost a week, so I could not log in to anything that needed the Authenticator app. This made it difficult to follow up on my finances and my appointments. I have had to use my old broken phone since then which has also made it difficult to access appointments, emails and other apps needed.
My academic functioning was severely affected by these circumstances which in turn, further impacted my mental health negatively. At the present, I am taking the necessary steps to address all extenuating circumstances and feel all these situations have been or are currently being managed. I am beginning treatment and support for my mental health by attending regular appointments with my psychiatrist. I have also connected with a social worker who is supporting me with this appeal process. The car situation has been handled; my father is a mechanic so he helped me throughout the process. I am working on my Debt Appeal currently to solve the financial issue, and I will be getting a new working phone within the next week.
I am confident that I will be able to demonstrate, my usual academic performance if given a second chance. The grades I received this school year were unusual to even myself and not a representation of what I am capable of. I have been working on the academic plan, to be submitted in this appeal which will further outline the steps, tools and resources available to me next year to ensure my success.
I have attached supporting documentation from my psychiatrist. If there is anything else I can provide or any questions I can answer for you, feel free to call or email me.
Sincerely,
Binyat Akrem
20301422
Queens University
392 Alfred St, Kingston ON.
I am Binyat, and I am a first-year student here at Queens University in the Bachelor of Arts and Science Program.
I am requesting a review of my enrolment and to appeal the request of withdrawal from the program for one year as a result of extenuating circumstances. Your help would be greatly appreciated, thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.
I understand that my appeal is late, and this is due to extenuating circumstances that extended well past the school year. On May 18th, 2022, my close friend passed away. I viewed the letter a day after it was sent, on May 25th, which was on the same day of the casket viewing as well as my 19th birthday. The following day was his funeral. As you can imagine it was a very difficult time for me to lose someone so close. When I saw the letter that morning, I read the first few lines and could not go further on my own due to the stress, anxiety and grief I was experiencing. Dealing with the grief of my friend, I could not take steps to address the appeal for a little while with all this happening. However, I did make an appointment with a counsellor connected to me by my psychiatrist for support with the letter and appeal. We, unfortunately, weren't able to meet until late June.
Over the entirety of my first year, I faced issues with mental health. I worked on getting academic consideration, however, I only received accessibility support towards the end of the year. I was struggling with getting help at Queens. I had asked to start counselling but was never given the steps to move forward or access such services. My mother had to come to Kingston for a few days to take me to the Student Wellness Centre because of the extent that which I was struggling. On top of struggling mentally, several extenuating circumstances took place over the year.
In January, I was in a car accident alone. My car was totalled, and the mental toll of the accident was difficult, as well as dealing with the aftermath of the situation.
In March, I was struggling with finances. I had made many trips to the financial advisor's office where I tried to figure out how I would be able to pay off my first year. This stress affected my attention to most things and made it difficult to focus in class and on assignments.
During the time of my financial stress, my new phone had got stolen. I was phone-less for almost a week, so I could not log in to anything that needed the Authenticator app. This made it difficult to follow up on my finances and my appointments. I have had to use my old broken phone since then which has also made it difficult to access appointments, emails and other apps needed.
My academic functioning was severely affected by these circumstances which in turn, further impacted my mental health negatively. At the present, I am taking the necessary steps to address all extenuating circumstances and feel all these situations have been or are currently being managed. I am beginning treatment and support for my mental health by attending regular appointments with my psychiatrist. I have also connected with a social worker who is supporting me with this appeal process. The car situation has been handled; my father is a mechanic so he helped me throughout the process. I am working on my Debt Appeal currently to solve the financial issue, and I will be getting a new working phone within the next week.
I am confident that I will be able to demonstrate, my usual academic performance if given a second chance. The grades I received this school year were unusual to even myself and not a representation of what I am capable of. I have been working on the academic plan, to be submitted in this appeal which will further outline the steps, tools and resources available to me next year to ensure my success.
I have attached supporting documentation from my psychiatrist. If there is anything else I can provide or any questions I can answer for you, feel free to call or email me.
Sincerely,
Binyat Akrem
20301422
Queens University
392 Alfred St, Kingston ON.
Documentation
Professional Letter: assess.akr.docx.pdf